About Me

I have always been fascinated with the briar pipe. When I was a young boy, I remember seeing an old pipe in my grandfather’s desk and on rare occasions I would play with it and noted it had a peculiar taste when I drew on it. In college many professors smoked a pipe and my chemistry professor was no exception. In fact he had a short bent pipe, filled with Granger, hanging from his mouth at all times and was able to articulate most clearly. I began to smoke a pipe in college and carried the pleasure into medical school. There it seemed it was almost fashionable to smoke a pipe and many docs, students and professors smoked. Pipe and tobacco pouches were always in my white doctor’s coat and I lit it up almost anywhere in the hospital or medical school. Folks certainly had their heads screwed on straight in those days!

I was born and raised in Williamsport, Pa. When I was very young, my parents built a house in the mountains along a stream. It was there that I found my love for the outdoors, including climbing in the mountains, walking in the woods, swimming in the stream, and playing in the snow. My family loved to hunt and fish and I was raised with a shotgun in one hand and a fly rod in the other. It was in nature that I began to notice God’s marvelous handiwork and later became a Christian. Being in the Kingdom of God is the greatest blessing for me. I am married to a wonderful lady, Dory, for 53 years, and have 5 kids and 12 grandkids.I live in Vermont in the mountains with a great view from our deck can hike or snowshoe right out my backdoor.


I had the privilege of becoming a family physician and cared for people for 40 years, retiring in 2011.  During those years, I became a professional pipe maker because of my love for briar pipes and a passion to make fine briar pipes. My rustication technique has received accolades from fellow pipe makers and customers around the world, some even saying it is the best available amongst today's pipe makers.  Unique to my rustication is that it makes my pipes lighter due to the amount of briar wood removed.   I do my own silver hand work on my pipes. The briar I use is aged Grecian or Italian, strawberry wood and morta.

1 Year Guarantee

If there are any burn out issues. cracks in the pipe or defects, your pipe will be replaced, you just pay shipping costs

Fast Shipping

Shipping will take no more than 3-5 business days... Possible delays due to COVID-19

Customer Service

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at: bobkiess@gmail.com